WEBVTT RICK: LATE TODAY, THE JCPS BOARDOF EDUCATION HELD A SPECIALMEETING TO REAFFIRM ITS POSITIONON A CONTROVERSIAL BILL MOVINGTHROUGH THE LEGISLATURE INFRANKFORT.HOUSE BILL 151 WOULD ALLOWSTUDENTS TO ATTEND THE SCHOOLCLOSEST TO THEIR HOME.RIGHT NOW, STUDENTS CAN CHOOSEFROM SCHOOLS IN GEOGRAPHICALCLUSTERS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOTINCLUDE THE SCHOOL CLOSEST TOTHEIR HOMES.SUPPORTERS SAY TOO MANY CHILDRENARE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME BEINGBUSSED ACROSS THE COUNTYOPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY JCPSPROVIDES PLENTY OF CHOICES FORSCHOOL ASSIGNMENT, AND THAT ITWOULD DAMAGE DIVERSITY ANDMAGNET PROGRAMS. TODAY, SOME BOARD MEMBERSREFLECTED ON THE UGLY SCENES ANDSTRUGGLES WHEN BUSING BEGAN IN>> WE DO NOT NEED TO GO BACK.AS FAR AS THE SIGNS ANDRESEGREGATION, TO MY WAY OFTHINKING, TO MY WAY OF THINKING,GOING BACK WILL NOT GET US TOWHERE WE NEED TO BE. >> LED BY THE COURAGE OF AFRICANAMERICAN PARENTS AND CHILDRENAND THANKS TO THEIR SACRIFICES,I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND HIGHQUALITY, INTREGRATED SCHOOLS, ASHAVE MY CHILDREN. RICK: THE BOARD SAYS STUDENTASSIGNMENTS SHOULD BE LEFT UP TOLOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.BUT IF THE BILL IS PASSED,LAWMAKERS SHOULD ALSOAPPROPRIATE MONEY FROM THEGENERAL FUND TO PAY DISTRICTSFOR THE EXPENSE OF MAKING THECHANGES.>> IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE INFRANKFORT TO THINK THAT THEYHAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BY JUSTCHANGING A BILL OR REWORDING THELANGUAGE OF A BILL TO FIX SOMEREALLY COMPLEX PROBLEMS.RICK: THE SENATE EDUCATIONCOMMITTEE MEETS IN THE MORNING,BUT THE BILL IS NOT ON THEAGENDA AS OF NOW ACCORDING TOJCPS.SUPERINTENDENT DONNA HARGENS

JCPS Board of Education takes stand against House Bill 151

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Updated: 11:24 PM EST Mar 1, 2017

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Late Wednesday the Jefferson County Public School Board of Education held a special meeting to reaffirm its position on a controversial bill moving through the Legislature in Frankfort.

House Bill 151 would allow students to attend the school closest to their home.

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Right now, students can choose from schools in geographical clusters, which may or may not include the school closest to their homes.

Supporters say too many children are spending too much time being bused across the county.

Opponents of the bill say JCPS provides plenty of choices for school assignment, and that it would damage diversity and magnet programs.

Some board members reflected on the ugly scenes and struggles when busing began in the 1970s.

"We do not need to go back. As far as the signs and resegregation, to my way of thinking, to my way of thinking, going back will not get us to where we need to be," Diane Porter from JCPS District 1 said.

"Led by the courage of African American parents and children and thanks to their sacrifices, I was able to attend high quality, integrated schools, as have my children," Chris Kolb from District 2 said.

The board says student assignments should be left up to local school boards.

But if the bill is passed, lawmakers should also appropriate money from the general fund to pay districts for the expense of making the changes.

The Senate education committee meets in the morning, but the bill is not on the agenda as of now, according to JCPS.